"I humbly thank you for't. I never knew
A Florentine more kind and honest."--Cassio (1403: III. i. 37-38)
This quote is an instance of dramatic irony. The audience has been informed from Iago's soliloquies that everything he is advising people to do is for his own gain. He could care less if Roderigo gets the girl. There is dramatic irony because the characters think that Iago is really trying to help them. Roderigo thinks that Iago is giving him advice on how to win Desdemona's heart. However, Iago is using Roderigo to make people mad, so that he can get the position he wants. Likewise, Cassio thinks that Iago is helping him get back in favor with Othello, but he is actually tricking him and setting him up to mess up even more. The purpose of the dramatic irony is to reveal to the audience another side of Iago's personality. It also creates suspense because readers are drawn into the action because they know Iago's true intentions. It is effective because the characters act as if they truly believe that Iago is being helpful. The characters and readers have different understandings of situations, so they are expecting different results.
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